Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026

This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior, working with the Bureau of Indian Education, to study how to update the Indian School Equalization Formula, which funds schools run by the Bureau and by tribes, within one year. The study must aim for school staff pay equal to the higher of top state public school salaries or Department of Defense teacher pay, and must consider funding weights for tribally controlled, small, and rural schools. It also directs that Havasupai Elementary School receive an added cost factor of 12.5 Weighted Student Units in an updated formula. The Secretary must report findings and recommendations to Congress and Indian Tribes, and separately study possible revenue sources to bring these schools to funding parity with other schools.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Martin Heinrich Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors